By Mel Fernandez
Tania Batucan is pictured above. Photos supplied.
In an earlier report we spoke with three Filipinas who stood in this year’s local body elections. It is hoped that this small upswing in interest will encourage more Filipino-Kiwis to come forward to participate as candidates in the future.
The three candidates in this election were Tania Batucan, who stood for the Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board in Auckland, Thelma Bell, who stood for the Ashburton District Council and Marie Pollisco, who stood for the Halswell Community Board in Christchurch.
Sadly, when the election results were announced Thelma Bell was unsuccessful in her bid to win a seat this year.
Tania Batucan was delighted with her win and conveyed this message: “To all my kababayan, maraming salamat po!
“Wow, I am so blown away with the support that I have received from all of you in the final weekend and throughout my campaign.
“Thank you to everyone for choosing me, your votes have helped me achieve a re-elected position as a trustee for the Mt. Wellington Licensing Trust, this time being ranked number 1 in votes.
“It was a close race for a position on the Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board sadly I was shy of 100 votes, which is a step closer than the last time with a difference of 1500 – we are bridging the gap!
“You have indicated your faith in me with your vote and I plan to honour it. Your vote demonstrates that you trust me to be your voice and I cannot thank you enough for your trust. I pledge to take us to greater heights and to complete all our goals for Filipino representation.
“Thank you again for your support. I vow that I will not take this position lightly and I am well aware of the responsibility that you have given me.”
Tania is a Filipina/New Zealander who was born in New Zealand, but spent many years going back and forth between NZ and her mother’s home of Cebu. She completed her first year of high school at Alcoy National High School and had been going back every year prior to Covid. “The Philippines is what I like to call my second home,” she relates.
“As a passionate community member, I was instrumental in setting up the Mt. Wellington Community Patrol where I serve as Secretary and Treasurer. Currently, I am the Vice-President of the Mt. Wellington Licensing Trust. I was instrumental in setting up the Mt. Wellington Community Patrol, which I actively volunteer for and the Mt. Wellington Residents Association.
“Mt. Wellington is a changing diverse community which I love being a part of. My passion for thriving communities, my extensive range of expertise and experience and my determination to build stronger and safer communities will be assets to the local board team.
“Our Filipino community is growing across New Zealand with minimal representation. I am honoured to be the first Filipina elected as a Trustee/Director for the Mt. Wellington Licensing Trust.”
Marie Pollisco, the other successful candidate, has lived in Christchurch since arriving from the Philippines over 30 years ago for her post-graduate studies at Lincoln University. She currently lives in Halswell with her two sons.
She is a Justice of the Peace and has been a volunteer Responder with Civil Defence for over 10 years, assisting in emergency events such as earthquakes, floods, storms, the mosque shooting, rural fires and the COVID response.
“I bring more than two decades of experience in resource management and a strong understanding of local government to this role,” says Marie.
